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Massapequa High School voters

By mid-day many of the voters who went to the polls at Massapequa High School were from all walks of life and diverse in their opinions. But the one thing they all had in common was that they voted in the affirmative to build a new state-of-the-art sports and entertainment venue.

On August 1, 2011, Heather and Cole Schlesinger voted yes to bring jobs to Nassau County residents.

Tom Waddell and his wife Alison, who are expecting their second child in September, headed to the polls with their young son Alexander. They plan to raise their family in Nassau County and hope the Islanders remain on Long Island for years to come so they can raise their children Islanders fans

We’re out here today being Islanders fans and being in support of Nassau County,” Tom Waddell said. “This is a good idea to come out and vote yes for the project and to move forward. I think it’s a good thing for Long Island and Nassau County, but also to keep the Islanders at home. It’s a beautiful day. I think people should come out and vote.”

While the first half of the day was sunny and warm, it started to rain and hail after 4 p.m., halting East Bound trains on the Long Island Rail Road. It is yet to be determined how the inclement weather will affect the remainder of the day at the polls.

Prior to the rain, the Waddell’s weren’t the only family who came to the polls together.

Kathy Voigt said she brings her nine-year-old daughter Marianne with her every time she votes because even though her daughter isn’t quite old enough to have her voice heard, Kathy feels it’s important to teach her daughter about the process.

“I came out to vote today because I think it’s important that people take a stand one way or the other,” Voigt said. “They (the community) should have some influence in what is going on. I chose to vote yes for the job factor. There is a lot of unemployment (in Nassau County). The project will bring revenue to the area and we’d like to keep the Islanders here.”

Tom Waddell and his wife Alison bring their son Alexander with them to the polls at Massapequa High School on August 1, 2011.

Heather Schlesinger, 54 and a mother of four sons, went to the polls with her 22-year-old son Cole. They both were voting to support those in the community who have gone without jobs for too long.

“I know a lot of people who don’t have kids in school anymore and I’m one of them,” Heather Schlesinger said. “I think it’s very important to support the community. I’ve lived here since I was five (years of age) and I think we need to bring revenue (to Nassau County).”

Schlesinger continued, “It’s important that we do this. It will add a lot of jobs. We shouldn’t just think about the taxes going up. You have to think about all the opportunities that are being created.”

“I’m a Rangers fan, but I do root for the Islanders,” Cardone said. “I’ve been to many games there (at Nassau Coliseum). Overall, I think it’s just going to be good for the whole atmosphere because if we lose a team on Long Island, the city is really going to be the only place we have to see a game. And of course, you always have to have a rivalry. Jets-Giants, Islanders-Rangers. You have to have it just for the spark.”

Whatever their reasoning, hockey fans, non-hockey fans, Islanders fans or not, Nassau came out to vote Monday. Now they just wait for the final count and hope that enough of their neighbors, friends and family showed up to keep the Islanders on Long Island as well as bring 4,500 jobs and millions of dollars of tax relief to Nassau County.